Edna Phillips, Librarian Emeritus of Morrill Memorial Library, Dies at 78-November 4, 1968

Remembering the Life and Legacy of Norwood’s Beloved Librarian

Miss Edna Phillips, 78, of 5 Walters Road, librarian emeritus of the Morrill Memorial Library, died Saturday night at Maple Grove Manor. She had been seriously ill for about six months.

Miss Phillips retired in 1962 after 23 years of service at Norwood Library, but continued to maintain an active interest in it. Only 10 days before her death, she visited the library. Born in Newark, N.J., Miss Phillips attended several art schools after graduating from high school. She became a librarian apprentice in Madison, N.J., and without ever graduating from college passed a New Jersey state civil service examination for which only library school graduates were supposed to be eligible.

At the beginning of World War I, she was librarian at the Edgewater, N.J., public library. Leaving that post, she went overseas to become the only Norwood woman serving with the 12th Ambulance Co. of Bay City, Mich., on the French front. At the end of the war she returned to library work. From 1923 to 1932 she was supervisor of work with racial groups in the Massachusetts Department of Public Libraries.

Miss Phillips came to Norwood in 1939 to become librarian in Gloucester. Here she organized a branch library in South Norwood and one at Norwood hospital.

Edna Phillips Obituary & Career Highlights

Professional Service

Role: Librarian Emeritus of Morrill Memorial Library
Tenure: 23 years of service in Norwood, retiring in 1962
Key Contributions: Organized South Norwood branch library and Norwood Hospital branch

Wartime & State Work

World War I: Served overseas with the 12th Ambulance Co. of Bay City on the French front
State Department: Supervisor of work with racial groups in the Massachusetts Department of Public Libraries (1923-1932)

Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger

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